This is the 3rd in a series of articles discussing the different pieces of WordPress. We’ve already discussed the header.php and the footer.php—but they are only part of the picture. What happens between the two files is the actual content on your WordPress site and pages, and we will now delve into templates: where the header, footer, and content areas are put together. What’s displayed to the end user in their browser is directed by the “template file” being used. WordPress has a hierarchy that determines which template file is used in specific situations, and although it may initially seem confusing, there […]
Free WordPress Themes: March 2014 Edition
March witnessed the release of several free WordPress themes. Most of which were meant for personal bloggers—with a generous variety of magazine and portfolio themes. Another good point worth noting is that almost all of the free WordPress themes that were released this month were fully responsive—with a few odd exceptions. Hopefully, this trend will gain further momentum into next month, to the extent that ‘responsive’ will become a permanent fixture in the list of theme features. So, let’s check out the major free WordPress themes released during the month of March. 1. Imprint Imprint is a responsive WordPress theme […]
Taking a Second Look at the Plugin Repository
Just last week, the WordPress plugin repository passed the 30,000 plugins hosted mark. This is, of course, an incredible achievement and one that reflects both the magnitude of the WordPress project and the spirit of its community. It also got me thinking. 30,000 is a lot of plugins. There are many plugins that are outdated, ineffective, and potentially harmful to WordPress installs. Finding those, however, can be a daunting task, and regulating them can be even more difficult. I began thinking out loud on Twitter, and was able to come up with a few suggestions. I think that it’s certainly a […]
Don’t Quit Your Day Job yet . . .
Every week I talk with a WordPress developer who is thinking about quitting their day job and going full time—either as a freelancer or into creating a new product. Every week I walk them through the reasons I suggest they don’t quit their day jobs just yet. If you’re in a similar place, this may be of help to you too. So here are 5 reasons to keep your day job. #1 Scarcity brings focus I’m going to talk a lot about scarcity. So let’s begin with a simple understanding of what it means. Scarcity is all about a restricted […]
Where in the World Is WordPress?
With WordPress being used by over 20% of all websites, the platform was bound to extend its reach past international boundaries. In recent years, WordPress has seen a continued rise in its users abroad—spreading like wildfire internationally. This is partially due to its ease of use, but partially because it has embraced the attention it is gaining from abroad. WordPress is written in 100 different languages, and updates to the platform often include new language accessibility features. Right now, WordPress has the capability to be used in any language—there is a current list available of all languages the software is available in. […]
Making Your WordPress Site Accessible to Everyone
Businesses have many things to consider when creating a new WordPress site. They must focus on issues like branding, design, content, SEO, CRO, information architecture, and social media integrations. So—due to this multifaceted development—accessibility can slip between the cracks. If businesses target the average internet user—disregarding the deviants—they’re excluding a large pool of potential customers. There’s no excuse for a modern website to ignore the needs of differently abled visitors. In fact, by implementing a few simple accessibility improvements, websites can easily expand their audience. Apple CEO, Tim Cook, recently said: People with disabilities often find themselves in a struggle […]
Finding the Right WordPress Backup Plugin
Trust me, it’s best to think about WordPress back-ups before there’s a problem. Afterwards won’t do you much good. So as you’re looking for a proper WordPress backup plugin, here are a few things to consider. What Do I Need to Back Up? First things first, it’s important to understand what “backing up a WordPress install” means. Your average WordPress site has a lot of moving parts, some of which are essential, and others that are not. In general, WordPress can be divided into three types of content. The first is WordPress core files, the second is site-specific files and […]
A Walk Through the Evolution of Sidekick
Many WordPress users struggle with the day-to-day how-tos of website development. In fact, WordPress has evolved to be so dynamic that many users don’t even realize what their website or blog is capable of. Or, even if you do know that a certain function is possible, the (often times) daunting task of learning how to do it may seem taxing. If you’ve experienced this, don’t worry; you’re not alone. But, today there are options to help bridge the gap in your WordPress knowledge. There are tools that provide you with the guidance necessary to perform basic, intermediate, and advanced WordPress tasks. […]
A Good Pick-up Line and a Good CTA Are Pretty Much the Same Thing
When you’re trying to inspire engagement on your site, you want to implement the best practices to encourage further interaction, right? Right. Because if that’s not what you’re doing, then you should probably keep your thoughts in a private Hello Kitty journal on your nightstand instead of on the interwebs. And the best way to inspire a response is a well-crafted Call to Action (CTA). So, how does one go about crafting the perfect CTA? Well, think about your CTA like a good pick-up line; if executed correctly, you’ll get the reaction you’re hoping for. However, if poorly executed, you […]
Calling All WordPress Users: WordPress 3.9 Beta 1 Needs Your Help
Yesterday, the first beta of WordPress 3.9 was announced, and is now available for testing. With a scheduled release date of mid-April, testers are needed to further refine the new software. As testers, you have the opportunity to contribute to the development of 3.9 and–more broadly–to the WordPress community. To contribute, simply install the WordPress Beta Tester, or download the zip file for beta. If you encounter a bug, you can report it in the Alpha/Beta area in the support forums. Alternatively, you can post an in-depth bug report of the issue you’ve encountered. Many bugs have already been reported, so make […]
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